Bulgarian caretaker Foreign Minister Nadezhda Neynsky stated that disinformation represents a threat exceeding mere fake news, asserting that it actively undermines public trust, fosters societal division, and weakens democratic institutions. She delivered these remarks at the opening of the DisInfoHack 2026 final event, held at the Big Data for Smart Society Institute (GATE) Institute of the St Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. Minister Neynsky emphasized that countering disinformation requires more than technological solutions; it demands critical thinking, comprehensive knowledge, and the intellectual courage to question established narratives.
She addressed the attendees, noting that the younger generation’s capacity to reject pre-packaged answers is a significant asset. According to the Foreign Minister, this characteristic makes young people vital to the stability of both Bulgaria and Europe. She further stated that national security is not solely determined by physical borders but is intrinsically linked to a society’s collective ability to identify verifiable truth, suggesting that this foundation begins with the audience itself.
The DisInfoHack initiative is part of the three-year Countering Disinformation Environment (Ecosystem) in Bulgaria (CoDE) project. This effort is designed to enhance information resilience by applying a scientific methodology to research and analyze Bulgaria’s current information landscape, ultimately developing best practices and tools for effectively managing disinformation threats.
Topics: #undermines #democracy #foreign
Neynsky’s comments emphasize that disinformation poses a structural threat to democratic institutions beyond simple misinformation.
What specific actions or policies does the Foreign Ministry recommend to counteract the threat of disinformation?